In this How I Built This episode of The Elevate Your Business Podcast, Adam sits down with George Sortino — a Sicilian-born, American-made entrepreneur who built hotels, restaurants, bowling alleys, sports books, barbershops, and entertainment centers across Northern Ohio.

From arriving in the U.S. at age seven, to buying his first hotel with no money down, to creating Sortino's legendary Italian restaurant experience, George embodies the spirit of old-school entrepreneurship fueled by humility, grit, and a relentless commitment to people.

This episode is packed with "cheat codes" for business owners — including money management rules, leadership principles, customer service philosophy, and timeless lessons George learned from his father that shaped his life and legacy.

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – George's upbringing: from Sicily to Sandusky 03:00 – His father's resourcefulness and early lessons in resilience 05:00 – The entrepreneurial spark rooted in family heritage 07:00 – First jobs, making $1 a day, and learning trades young 10:00 – How a simple conversation led to buying his first hotel 12:00 – The origin story of Sortino's Restaurant 14:00 – Creating the iconic "pasta and wine at the table" experience 16:00 – Early startup challenges, long hours, and labor of love 18:00 – Building multiple businesses: hotels, restaurants, bowling, and more 20:00 – Why relationships became his greatest advantage 23:00 – Selling Sortino's and expanding into Kalahari Resorts locations 25:00 – Balancing business ownership and family life 27:00 – His biggest regrets and proudest family moments 29:00 – The toughest periods as an owner and how he got through them 32:00 – His philosophy: "Problems are opportunities" 34:00 – A powerful story about integrity when no one is watching 36:00 – Money management rules every entrepreneur should follow 40:00 – His favorite business books and success philosophies 42:00 – Looking back: did he exceed his expectations? 46:00 – Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs 49:00 – Advice for business owners feeling stuck or plateaued

Key Takeaways:

💡 Relationships are your real competitive advantage.💡 Great service is doing the unexpected — especially when no one is watching.💡 Cashflow discipline builds longevity; living below your means builds freedom.💡 Problems aren't setbacks — they're pathways to profit.💡 Work ethic matters, but humility and kindness matter more.💡 Success doesn't happen by accident; it happens by design.

Key Quotes from George Sortino:

🗣 "Problems become opportunities — that's how you build a business."🗣 "The eye of the owner fattens the horse."🗣 "Better to live one day like a lion than a hundred years like a sheep."🗣 "There's nothing more rewarding than relationships — that's what builds success."🗣 "If you don't manage your money, you will never manage your business."

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Connect with Adam Koós: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkoos Website: https://www.libertaswealth.com